Abstract: A router is disclosed for use in a network to carry data packets therein. Each router provides a hop along a path through the network extending from a source network address node to a destination network address node. Each route for routing data packets contains a destination network address to a next successive hop along a path between the source network address and the destination network address. Each router has a central routing processor in communication with its forwarders over a control medium to provide routing tables to each forwarder defining the next hop for forwarding received data packets for each destination address. Routing table updates of the forwarders by the central routing processor are sequentially downloaded to all forwarders simultaneously from the central routing processor, using a negative acknowledgement protocol. The central routing processor selectively responds to a negative acknowledgement message from a forwarder to re-transmit routing table updates.

Abstract: A router is disclosed for use in a network to carry data packets therein. Each router provides a hop along a path through the network extending from a source network address node to a destination network address node. Each route for routing data packets contains a destination network address to a next successive hop along a path between the source network address and the destination network address. Each router has a central routing processor in communication with its forwarders over a control medium to provide routing tables to each forwarder defining the next hop for forwarding received data packets for each destination address. Routing table updates of the forwarders by the central routing processor are sequentially downloaded to all forwarders simultaneously from the central routing processor, using a negative acknowledgement protocol. The central routing processor selectively responds to a negative acknowledgement message from a forwarder to re-transmit routing table updates.